747 VLAT – Tanker 944 Operation Mission Profile
TECHNICAL INFORMATION: TERMINOLOGY: USA AND INTERNATIONAL EQUIVALENTS
• Aircraft: Boeing 747-400 Air Tanker/Tanker – Fire Bomber
• General Dimensions: Lead/Lead Plane – Bird Dog
o Wingspan: 211 feet/64.3 m
Air Tactical Group Supervisor – Air Attack Officer
o Length: 231 feet/70.4 m
• Speed:
o Long-range high-speed cruise (above 10,000 ft):
DISPATCH PROTOCOL
500 knots (926 km/h)
o Speed below 10,000 MSL: 250 knots (463 km/h) • Request 747 VLAT as per agency-established guidelines
(by FAA regulation)
o Drop speed: 145-155 knots (269-287 km/h) • Lead / Bird Dog required for drop supervision
o Orbit Speed: 150 knots (278 km/h)
• Dispatch / Resource Order is given to the crew,
• Normal Mission Endurance: 2.5 hours
which contains all pertinent information to safely fly a
• Flight Crew: Three plus and ATGS or observer if needed fire mission
• Special Avionics:
o TCAS II (Collision avoidance system) .5 mile (.8 km) • Initial response time and reloads: Normally 30
to 12 mile (19.31 km) minutes plus taxi time
o Satcom
o TAWS (Terrain awareness) and Radar Altimeter • En-route altitude: 120 miles (193 km) + to the fire at
o GPWS – Ground Proximity Warning System 18,000 feet (5,486 m) or above. Less than 120 miles (193 km)
o Triple GPS FMS Navigation System below 18,000 ft (5,486 m).
o ADS-B
• Initial contact with appropriate aerial supervision
• Maximum Taxi Weight: 873,000 pounds (395,986 Kg) (Lead/Bird Dog or Air Attack Officer) 40-20 miles (64-32 km)
• Fire Fighting Weight: 650,000 pounds (294,835 Kg) Out.
• Maximum Landing Weight: 652,000 pounds • Fire Traffic Area (FTA): 150 knots (278 km/h)
(295,742Kg)
• Operations: Operates 220,000 (99,790Kg) pounds • Holding Area: the same as the other tankers/fire bombers;
below maximum certified weight the left-hand orbit may be flown wider or as assigned
• Can land with a full load of retardant if the mission is by aerial supervision
cancelled once airborne.
• Wake Turbulence: Standard heavy jet procedures apply.
• Bases of Operations: Pre-approved civilian and military
Other aircraft following and in trail of the aircraft must
bases or approved agency retardant bases
wait 3-5 minutes minimum before reentry into orbit
with minimum 6,500 ft. (1,981 m) runway approved for 747
route or drop pattern.
operations.
STRATEGY AND TACTICS DROP SYSTEM
• Standard tanker/fire bomber strategies and tactics apply as
• Capacity:
established by the controlling agency.
o Total Gallons Carried 19,200 (72,680 lt)
• Aircraft may pressurize with the load onboard, allowing it to cover o Total Gallons Dropped 18,600-17,500 (70,409 lt)
long distances very rapidly.
• System Type: Pressurized Constant Flow
• Aircraft does not need to jettison any part of the load in order to • T944 Load Equivalents: Varies based on aircraft comparison,
land if cancelled prior to arrival at the fire. but may range from 2 to 23 times the load delivered
• Coverage Level: 1 – 10 gallons per 100 square feet (3.79 – 37.85
• Due to our unique pressurized system, we can perform effective lt. in 9.29 square meters)
coverage level drops over narrow deep saddles, ravines and basins • Effective Line Length:
where other aircraft may not be able to fly into.
o CL 2: 2 miles (3.22 km)
• Drops in steep downhill terrain may require splitting the load. o CL 4: 1.4 miles (2.25 km)
o CL 8: 0.6 miles (0.97 km)
• Level flight into rising terrain is preferred in some scenarios. • Line Width: 125-150 feet (38 – 46m) •
• Capable of doing split drops
• Flight crews and aircraft are oceanic certified for immediate
overseas incidents. • Four nozzles
• Agent Type:
o retardant, water, water enhancers
o • Drop Height: 250 to 300 feet (76 – 91.4m) above canopy
• DROP PROTOCOL
o Use of standard target description
o Apply 3 – 5-minute wake turbulence reentry for any
aircraft in trail
o Standard drop protocol
o Lead/Bird Dog required for drop supervision
o Recommend ground personnel/equipment to remain 200
ft (61 m) lateral distance from the fire line or as per
controlling agency policy
